About
Born Endre Ernő Friedmann in Budapest, Robert Capa fled Hungary and studied journalism in Berlin before settling in Paris in 1933. With Gerda Taro, he invented the persona of 'Robert Capa' to sell his photos at higher prices. He gained recognition for his coverage of the Spanish Civil War, notably his iconic photograph 'The Falling Soldier' (1936). He covered five wars, including the Normandy landings where he was the only civilian photographer to land on Omaha Beach. Co-founder of Magnum agency in 1947, he received the Medal of Freedom in 1947. He died in 1954 in Indochina after stepping on a landmine.
* 1913-10-22 — † 1954-05-25
Major works
- The Falling Soldier (1936)photograph
- The Magnificent Eleven (1944)series of photographs
Key milestones
- 1947Co-founded Magnum Photos agency in Paris.
- 1947Received the U.S. Medal of Freedom for his World War II coverage.
- 1954Killed by a landmine in French Indochina.
Themes
WarConflict photographyPhotojournalismCourageHistorical memory
Sources: icp.org · magnumphotos.com · britannica.com